Take control of cell-tower proliferation

Anna Griffin's recent commentary on the proliferation of cell towers in Portland is a welcome start to an important discussion. The negative impacts of cell towers on neighborhoods are clear, but we disagree with Griffin's defeatism. Portland can do far more to regulate the wireless industry.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 places limitations on the city, but the city's assertion that Portland is "not allowed to regulate the wireless industry," as David Soloos, the city's antenna expert, was quoted byGriffin, is simply not true.

• The city cannot prohibit wireless services or favor one carrier over another.

In fact, the Telecom Act specifically states, outside of those limitations, "nothing in this Act shall limit or affect the authority of a State or local government ... over decisions regarding the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities."

The real issue is the city's contracts with wireless carriers. The city excludes the community from any meaningful input on cell tower siting and reduces city oversight to an "administrative permit" process. The city does not verify information supplied by the wireless carriers; staff merely check that required paperwork is submitted and then approve the applications.

Griffin writes that Portland asked Congress to "kill the federal rule saying cities can't use health concerns to block new towers." Actually, the resolution Griffin is referring to merely "requests the FCC to work in cooperation with the FDA ... to revisit and update studies on potential health concerns arising from RF wireless emissions." It does not call for a change in the Telecom Act, a stand many other cities and counties have taken. We asked Commissioner Amanda Fritz to sponsor a stronger resolution -- the kind Griffin describes. Fritz declined.

Fritz acknowledges that residents are unhappy and promises to revisit the city's process "once a sufficient number of applications have been reviewed and approved/denied." Hundreds of new cell antenna installations are imminent. How many more neighborhoods must be impacted before "a sufficient number" is reached? How many more homeowners must bear the estimated 10 to 20 percent decrease in property value? How many more parents must worry about the long-term effects of RF radiation on children who sleep near cell towers?

The city's hands are not tied. Zone the public right of way so that replacing utility poles with large metal towers is subject to the same land-use regulation as any other development. Give broad public notice for all wireless facility proposals. Stop giving wireless carriers $13 million each year in tax breaks. Develop a citywide master plan for siting cell towers. The city can revoke the carriers' "temporary, revocable" permit if they believe it is in the public interest.

Even without challenging the Telecom Act, Portland could take control of cell tower siting decisions. The city can do far more to regulate the wireless industry, and Portlanders should insist on that.